Foldable canvas boat.



S. BELANSKI.

FOLDABLE CANVAS BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED 11017.18, 1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

Q/Vim coves HE NORRIS PETERS CO P! -IOTO-LITHC.. WASHING TON. D. C.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHOTD-LITHO. WASHINGTON. II C.

EOL'DABLE CANVAS BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedl eh. 16, 1915.

Applicationifiled.November 18,119.14. Serial-No:-872;745.

To all whom it may. concern Be it known :that I, STANLEY \BEI'JANSKI,

subject of :the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing f at Eastha-Inpton, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and lllSGflll Improvements =in Foldable Canvas Boats, of which the following as .a speclficatlon.

This :invention relatesto-certain new and useful improvements in foldable canvas boats.

A primary object of-the invention is to provide a foldable frame work adapted to support a flexible cover stretched'thereover and having locking means for retaining the frame-work in its unfolded assembled position.

Afurther object is to providea boat that is light in weight and easy to manufacture and comprising a foldable rib frame-work of 'metal and'having a removable flexible cover adapted to be=firmly stretched thereover in a complete boat formation when the framework is locked in its extended position.

Astill further object is to provide a'flexible envelop for-a foldable metallic framework which is adapted to be stretched to form the waterproof coveringfor theboat hull when'the frame-work' is extended and adapted to-be removed therefrom and folded for positioning within the frame-work application and in which like-designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a topplan view of the boat frame-work with 'the'covering and oar-locks removed. Fig.

2 is a vertical transverse sectional view thereof with the coveringin position ,the oarlocks shown in .dottedlines. 'Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinalsectional view of the foldable keel portion .of the boat, with two of the ribs broken away. "Fig. 4 is a .view partly in elevation and partly in section .of a portion of the "frame work and showing six of the rib members in their folded posltlon.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one .of itheioar locks removed. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of three rib members of the framework 1n their extended positions.

Fig. 7 is an insideelevation of the upper portions of six of the ribs of the frame-work intheir folded positions, and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional enlarged view of a section of the gunwale portion of the boat showing a different'means of securingthe covering to the frame-work.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, it will be noted lthflt a plurality of bowshaped ribs 10 are provided formed of resilient sheet metal-and constituting the material part of a foldableframe-work made of similar material, the opposite upper ends 11 of-each of saidribsbeing provided with bolts 12 and adapted forsupport'ing a fold able gunwale at'the opposite sides of the frame-work and formed as hereinafter described.

Thebolts 12 are employed for pivoting equal length-links 13 which 'have their adjacent ends pivoted together by similar bolts 1 and thus providing a link connection between the upperends of each of the adjacent rib ends, which links are upwardly fold-able as illustrated in Fig. 7 allowing the ribs 10 to be brought into edge contact with each other when the framework is in its closed position. by a suitable hinge 16 to the inner end of the'inner'one of eachpair of links 13 and A hasp 15 is connected isprovidedwith a slot 17 for engaging over a staple 18 carried' by the other link of the same pair while a hook 19 is swingingly mountedupon the bolt ltfor engaging the staple 18 when the hasp is engaged overthe staple with-thelinks in longitudinal alinement.

The gunwales having been briefly described as -to its construction and foldability, it will benoted that the bow portion 20 and stern portion 21 are each formed of a single piece and are bow-shaped. The frame-work is provided with a keel of similar foldable formation havingits links 22 with their adjacent ends of each pair pivoted togetherby a bolt23, while their opposite ends are pivoted by bolts 24:between upwardly projecting lugs 25 carried centrally on.th e inner sides of each of the ribs 10. The links 22 have corresponding ones of each pair provided with an outwardlyextending staple 26 adapted for reception within a longitudinal slot27 of a hasp 28 connected by a hinge 29 to the other link of each pair. A hook 30 is mounted upon each pivot bolt 23 for engaging the hooks 26 when the links 22 are positioned in longitudinal alinement in forming the keel rib for the framework and with the hasps positioned engaging over the said staples 26.

The bow gunwale portion 20 is pivoted to the first rib 31 by bolts 32 so that upon releasing the link connections which centrally connect the members 20 and 31, the said members will fold together, while upon then releasing three link connections between each of the succeeding ribs, all of the ribs may be folded together in edge engagement after the manner illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7. The stern gunwale portion 21 and the rearmost rib 33 may be similarly folded, but it is to be noted that the gunwale portion 21, the stern rib 33 and the rearmost one of the regular ribs 10 all have their free ends pivoted to opposite gunwale plates 3& thus allowing for the folding together of all of the stern members and so providing for the folding together of the entire framework.

A flexible envelop or cover 34 is provided for stretching over the framework when the latter is extended and is preferably made of canvas or any desired water-proof material, the same being of the general form of the hull of a boat and having its opposite edges 35 inturned over the gunwale portion of the frame-work and provided with a plurality of cords 36 terminating in hooks 37 which are removably positionable within rings 38 arranged upon the inner faces of the ribs 10 and adjacent the opposite upper ends thereof.

Oar-lock blocks 39 are adapted to be removably positioned at opposite points upon the boat-gunwale by means of projecting pins 40 carried by the said blocks and positionable straddling the said gunwales, the blocks being then retained in position by means of cotter pins 42 placed through transverse perforations 43 of the said block pins 40.

With this detailed description of the device, the complete operation thereof will be apparent. The flexible cover is readily positioned upon the frame-work in the manner described and is firmly stretched thereover when the frame-work is completely extended, thus forming a complete canvas boat, while the cover is readily removed therefrom by disconnecting the hooks 37 from the rings 38 whenever desired as for instance when some of the hooks 19 and 30 are released and the frame members are slidingly collapsed. The oar-lock members are also readily positioned and detached as heretofore described.

The canvas cover 34- in the form illustrated in Fig. 8 is adapted to be secured permanently to the exterior of the framework by being secured to the bolts 12 at the opposite ends of each of the ribs and also being secured as at 40 to the keel portion of each rib. With the covering thus secured to the framework it will be seen that by releasing all of the hasps thereof, that the framework with its covering may be readily folded so as to occupy an exceedingly small space and adapt the same for shipping or storage. The links may be readily unfolded thus plaeing the gunwales and keel in their operative positions and at which time the hooks may be engaged for retaining the hasps closed and the covering being in position the complete boat is thus quickly unfolded and positioned for use. A seat 4-1 as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 may be employed if desired being supported by the opposite gunwales, while the oar locks 39 are readily positioned and removed in the manner heretofore set forth.

While the form of the invention herein shown and described is what is believed to be the preferred embodiment thereof, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is 1. A foldable boat frame comprising bow shaped ribs, stern and bow gunwale portions pivoted to the opposite ends of the terminal ones of said ribs, links provided in pairs between the adjacent ones of said ribs and between said gunwale portions and the terminal ribs, pairs of links pivoted together and pivotally connecting the free ends of said ribs and gunwale portions, a perforated hasp hinged to one of each pair of links, a hook pivoted to the same one of each pair of links, a staple carried by the other one of each pair of links and adapted for receiving the adjacent hasps thereover when the links are positioned in longitudinal alinement with the frame in its-open operative position.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a metallic framework formed of a bow and a stern frame, ribs equally spaced apart and positioned therebetween, keel forming links centrallv connecting the said ribs together, gunwale-forming links pivoted to each other and to the ends of the ribs and locking means for all the said links.

3. A device of the class described comprising foldable bow and stern frames, a plurality of ribs positioned between said frames, links adapted for engaging each other and pivoted between said ribs and cen- 1,128,934 &

trally thereof, links pivoted together and In testimony whereof I afiix my signature having their outer ends when in their folded in presence of tWo Witnesses. position pivoted together and to the oppo- T site ends of said ribs, locking means for said 81A} LEY BELANSKI' links and a removable flexible cover adapted WVitnesses: for enveloping the entire structure when in CHAS. H. JoHNsoN, its unfolded boat formation. EARL V. GUY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

